Amazon: “several thousand” apps for Kindle Fire

We’re officially giving the US-only Amazon Kindle Fire the cold shoulder, but unofficially we’re watching the Stateside release with a keen eye and hoping it comes out over here soonish.

It hasn’t been entirely clear until now how app action would work on the Kindle Fire, but the Amazonians have fired out a meaty press release ahead of the device’s imminent release.

There are hundreds of thousands of apps on the Android Market, but Amazon Kindle Fire users will have access to just a few thousand of them. Ah well, quality over quantity and all that.

The press release explains: “[Users] will be able to choose from several thousand of the most popular Android apps and games, including Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, Twitter, Comics by comiXology, Facebook, The Weather Channel and popular games from Zynga, EA, Gameloft, PopCap and Rovio.”

All apps have reportedly been tested for compatibility. Kindle Fire users will be able to grab Amazon’s Free App of the Day, and any apps purchased on your Kindle Fire will also be available to download to your other Android devices.

"We started talking to app developers everywhere the day we introduced Kindle Fire, and the response has been overwhelming," says Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle.

"In addition to over 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, and magazines from Amazon, we are excited to offer customers thousands of apps and games to choose from on Kindle Fire.

“And this is only the beginning - we're adding more apps and games every day across all categories."

The Amazon Kindle Fire starts shipping on November 15. That's Tuesday. I think.